Leer en Español Bishop Richard F. Stika, who on Friday began a month-long series of Mass celebrations to offer the Sacrament of Confirmation to more than 1,700 youngsters in the Diocese of Knoxville, has issued the following statement regarding diocesan efforts to assist families following Thursday’s government raid in Grainger County: “The arrests of workers and undocumented immigrants in East …

On May 13, 1981, Pope John Paul II entered St. Peter’s Square standing inside an uncovered white jeep being driven through a crowd of people gathered to witness his weekly public appearance. Riding inside the same jeep, and sitting directly behind the Holy Father, was Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, then a priest-secretary to the pope. Within minutes of entering the square, …

Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, former secretary to Pope St. John Paul II and Archbishop of Krakow, Poland, will play a prominent role in Masses and special events surrounding the dedication of the new Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville, Tenn., the weekend of March 2-4. Cardinal Dziwisz will be traveling from Poland to participate in the celebration …

Bishop Richard F. Stika issued the following statement after Sunday’s church shooting in Texas: “Once again, our nation has been jolted by news of a mass killing. When will it end? Today’s appalling act of violence at a church in Texas reminds us that evil exists, and as a nation, and as good people, we must stand up to it. …

Bishop Richard F. Stika has announced distributions for recent collections to assist hurricane and earthquake victims in the United States, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Through the generosity of its 51 parishes and mission churches, the Diocese of Knoxville raised more than $400,000 through a series of special collections that were initiated in late August and continued through late September. “This …

In response Hurricane Irma, which has claimed lives and resulted in overwhelming destruction in the Caribbean and Florida, Bishop Richard F. Stika has extended his request that parishes in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville contribute to a fund to assist victims of that storm, and the one that hit Texas in late August. “With Hurricane Irma following on the …

Bishop Richard F. Stika today announced that the Diocese of Knoxville has distributed $368,906.79 to victims of the deadly and destructive wildfires that swept through the Gatlinburg area of East Tennessee in November. “Because of the love and generosity of people across East Tennessee and beyond, the Diocese of Knoxville is able to assist families who have been struggling to …

The Most Reverend David R. Choby, Bishop of the Diocese of Nashville since 2006, has died after battling recent health issues. He was 70. The Diocese of Nashville announced that Bishop Choby passed away at St. Thomas West Hospital in Nashville late Saturday night. He was undergoing treatment for injuries that he suffered in a fall at his home on …

On June 3, 2017, Bishop Richard F. Stika will ordain Christoper Floersh to the Holy Priesthood during a Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Last month, Deacon Floersh was gracious to answer a few questions about his upcoming ordination in an email exchange with Diocese of Knoxville Communications Director Jim Wogan. JW: Bishop Stika has ordained a good number of …

Bishop Richard F. Stika marked a milestone in the history of the Diocese of Knoxville when he ascended to the front peak of the new Sacred Heart Cathedral and placed an American Flag, a papal flag, and a ceremonial Christmas tree on the structure. The “topping off” ceremony, which marked the completion of the steel frame, was witnessed by Cardinal Justin …

Bishop Richard F. Stika celebrated the 7th anniversary of his Episcopal Ordination with a Mass attended by hundreds of faithful Catholics, including some who travelled hundreds of miles to participate, at Knoxville Catholic High School on Mar. 19. The Mass was part of the Mercy & Mary two-day Lenten retreat hosted by the Diocese of Knoxville and led by Father …

While Catholics across the world have been called on by Pope Francis to celebrate the Jubilee Year of Mercy— two priests from the Diocese of Knoxville received a special mandate from the Holy Father in Rome to spread merciful works further. Monsignor Al Humbrecht, pastor at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Soddy Daisy; and Father Joe Reed, associate pastor at …

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Bishop Stika’s March Prayer Intention:

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul HaringBy Rhina GuidosWASHINGTON (CNS) -- One of the founders of liberation theology in Latin America said he supports an effort to declare St. Oscar Romero a doctor of the Catholic Church. During a March 18 livestream of an event celebrating the Salvadoran saint canonized in October, Dominican Father Gustavo Gutierrez, considered by […]

IMAGE: CNS photo/Josh Estey, Care International via ReutersBy Bronwen DachsCAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) -- Two boys at a Catholic boarding school in Zimbabwe are among the more than 300 people killed in the aftermath of a cyclone that slammed into Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi in mid-March. Officials fear the death toll from the cyclone […]

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul HaringBy Carol GlatzVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christians have faith in a God who wants to and is able to transform the world, conquering evil with good, Pope Francis said. That is why "it makes sense to obey and abandon oneself" to God and his will, even during life's most difficult moments, the […]